Alphabetical Scoreboard: Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Reds Sweep

The poor Diamondbacks swept but gained no grounds as the two other teams that swept on the Alphabetical Scoreboard (See all teams’ week on table below) for Monday through Thursday are the Dodgers (they are chasing for the NL West) and the Reds who (they are chasing for the wildcard). The Reds not only swept the Cubs, but beat the Brewers Thursday, with a staff that was ranked #1 www.valueaddbaseball.com last week, and is now half a game behind the Cardinals and 2 1/2 behind the Pirates in the NL Central.

Latos threw a 2-0 shutout in a season in which he has won a 2-1, 3-1 and 4-2 in games in which his pen gave up runs.Better yet, the Reds pulled the sweep of the Cubs and win over the Cardinals without even using their second best pitcher, Mike Leake, who was ranked #18 on www.valueaddbaseball.com through last week’s stats. The ratings will be updated Friday, and Leake will pitch the second game against the Brewers Friday night.

Bronson Arroyo was ranked No. 33 last week, and his seven shutout innings could move him into the top 30, which means the Reds would have three pitchers worthy of being the No. 1 for a team based on how many wins they have added despite pitching in a hitters ballpark.This could actually give the Reds FOUR aces, as their past ace Johnny Cueto is on the DL for the third time with a strained right lat muscle. However, Tony Cingrani has stepped up and also made a 2-1 win hold up, striking out nine and allowing only five baserunners.